Giving a straight answer the Barbara Follett way

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what proportion of staff at the Women’s National Commission are (a) male, (b) female, (c) black and minority ethnic male and (d) black and minority ethnic female".

Barbara Follett:The Women’s National Commission has a small staff and provision of this information in the categories required would make it possible to identify individuals, if such information was used alongside other material in the public domain. This would be in breach of guidance on ethnicity disclosure. The Government Equalities Office sponsors the WNC. Combining the staff numbers of the GEO and the WNC lessens the risk of breaching the guidance on ethnicity disclosure and gives the following figures, based on the declaration staff have made

Percentage

(a) Male

39.4

(b) Female

60.6

(c) BME male

Less than 1

(d) BME female

10.6

The figure for BME males is inflated to a certain extent to avoid the possibility of a breach of guidance. This calculation excludes temporary staff.

I think what Babs means is that are no BME males working there.

(As a footnote, I can't say I was aware of the WNC, so I have been nosing around its website. Apparently one of the priorities for the Minsters (sic) for Women is "Tackling violence against women who commit crimes". Does this mean that shoplifters etc are getting roughed up by security goons, the Plod, Prison service etc, or disappointed relatives are dishing it out? I'm lost, frankly).